Fire-engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. F. BALDWIN.

FIRE ENGINE.

No. 292,276, Paten'ted Jan. 22, 1884.

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2 Sheets-Shet 2v (No Model.)

W. I.v BALDWIN.

FIRE ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 22, 1884..

- WITNESSES: zaza% ATTORNEYS.

, imam SrAfrns Farnnr Grimes...

WILLIAM F. BALDWIN, or GRAYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

FiRE-ENGENE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,276, dated January 22, 1884;.

Application filed August :8, I883. (Nomodcll V I To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grayville, in the county of White and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement iii Fire-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of fireengines which consists of pumps usually operated by hand to draw .water from cisterns to be delivered upon a fire or elsewhere; and it has for its object to provide means whereby any'number of cisterns may be adapted to receive the same pump and its operating-gear, and the gear adapted to operate one or more I pumps by hand or animal power, and to be readily removed from its fastenings.

To this end my invention consists in the constructionand combination of parts hereinafter decribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of part of a cistern, showing my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective drawing of the thimble, which is secured in the top of a cistern. Figs. 4. and 5 are detail views in elevation and plan, and Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective.

A represents a cistern buried in the earth.

B is a thimble which I fix in the top of the cistern, to furnish bearings for the pump and my driving-gear.

0 represents a pump of any suitable construction, operated by two pistons, D, reciprocated alternately by two eccentrics, E, on

two separate shafts, F, in the .same line. The

pump 0 is supported by a frame, G, which hangs in recesses a in the thimble B.

H is a support for the inner ends of shafts F and for the master-wheel I. The shafts F rotate'in the two ends of one common bearing in support H. The master-wheel I rotates upon a stud, J, projecting up from the center of support H. Each end of this support is bifurcated, resting in recesses b in the thimble B, to give it a firm bearing. The master-wheel is provided with beveled-gear teeth on its under side, engaging a pinion, K, on shafts F. The upper face of the master-wheel is provid ed with dovetailed grooves to receive levers L, provided with metallic shields M, dovetailed to fit into slots N removably, whereby the master-wheel may be revolved when desired,

and the levers removed and stored away, leaving the pump and motor connected, the top of the device being flush with the ground. The levers may be provided with means to hitch horses to them, if desired. Revolving the master-wheel causes the pinions K, their shafts F, and the eccentrics E to revolve at a greater speed, thus working the pump. cry-pipe Q of the pump rises through the thimble. B at P, where it may be provided with the usual means for coupling with a hose, the levers L being arranged to pass freely over the hose. The web of the master-wheel is hollowed out below, to turn freely over the eccentries.

R is a circular ledge in the thimble, in which the rim of the master-wheel may bear to prevent its rocking when fitted freely on its cen tral bearing. This master-wheel is practically the cover to the cistern. It may be raised from its bearing, the support H may be raised from its seat in the thimble, and the pump frame may be raised from its seat, thus removing the working parts from the cistern, so that they may be all used in another cistern provided with a similar thimble.

Some of the advantages of this fire-engine over common hand fire-engines are as follows: This engine is in position' for use all the time, only requiring the levers and hose to be attached, while portable engines cannot be started for a fire in country villages until a sufficient force to haul them arrives. Then the portable engine must come to this same cistern for its water and stand there to be worked. The cost of one portable engine would provide a number of my engines, each located readyfor use in the most populous portions of a town, where cisterns are usually located. The circular motion, whereby either hand or horse power may be used, is a great advantage, for with my engine two men and a horse can do good work, and the addition of more men and more horses will increase the results until the power is sufficient to revolve the le vers at the greatest speed that the men and horses can travel. When the levers are removed, the works are level with the top of the ground and out of the way, and protected from dirt. 3 V

I' provide two shafts, F, because it is imprac The delivticable to fit two pinions, K, to engage the teeth of one master-wheel at the same instant, and when both pinions are on one shaft they cause it to twist,prodncing friction. I place the two shafts in line in order that pinions K may bear at opposite points with balancing effect on wheel 1'.

hat I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters .latcnt, is

1. A thimble secured in the top of a cistern and a pump rcmo "ably hung in said thimblc, in combination with a horizontal cover journaled to rotate over the mouth of said thinlble, having means for attaching handles to its upper side and means forcommunicating motion to said pump, as shown and described.

2. A thimble having two sets of recesses secured in the top ot the cistern, a pump adapted to hang in one set of said recesses, and a cross-bar adapted to rest in the other set of said recesses, in combination with a cover journaled to rotate upon said cross-bar, having sockets on its upper face to receive handles, and gear-teeth on itslowcr face to communicate with said pnmp,as shown and described.

3. The thimble B, having recesses a,securcd in the top of a cistern, in combination with apump having aframe, G, provided with lugs adapted to rest in said recesses, as shown and described.

4. The combination, with athimblc pcrmanently fixed in the top of a cistern, said thimblc having shouldered reccsscsin it, of a pump having a frame provided with shoulders or tcnons to rest in said recesses, substantially as described, whereby said pump may be suspended in the cistern, or the same pump may be removed intact from the cistern and from the thimblc without loosening any binding devices.

5. The combination, with a thimble adapted to rest in the top of a cistern, having recesses Z) in itand a pump suspended by it, of a support, H, adapted to rest in said recesses, said support having the stud J and a bearing for shafts F, as described.

(5. Thethimble 13, having recesses a and I), he frame G, supported thereby, a pump supported in said frame, the eccentrics E, operating said pump, the pinions K, the masterwheel I, engaging them, the support It, provided with the stud J and bearings for a shaft, in combination with the two shafts F, journaled in said bearings and in frame (1-,Qach of said shafts carrying one 01' the eccentrics E and one pinion-wheel, K, as shown and described.

7. The thimble 13, having reccsscsb and the hearing ll, and the support lI, adapted to rest in said recesses, having a stud, .T,,in combination with thcmast cr-whcel I, journalcd on said stud, 'and provided with a peripheral edge adapted to rotate in bearing R, as described.

XVI LLLUI 1". BALINVIX. lVitncsses:

.VILLLUI G. \Vnnnrcuonr,

CHARLES I. k l-ZELEY. 

